A recent study has raised concerns about the possibility of planets developing internal black holes that could eventually lead to their destruction.
This research, published on August 20, suggests that dark matter may accumulate at the core of some planets, eventually forming a black hole that consumes the planet from the inside.
While the exact nature of dark matter remains unknown, NASA states that it constitutes roughly 27 percent of the universe.
NASA elaborates: “Dark matter is the invisible glue that holds the universe together. This mysterious material is all around us, making up most of the matter in the universe.”
Although dark matter itself doesn’t create black holes, it can play a role in their formation.
The study suggests that exoplanets, which orbit stars outside our solar system, are particularly well-suited for detecting dark matter interactions.
Researchers used theoretical models to propose that exoplanets might gather dark matter in their cores over extensive periods.
Mehrdad Phoroutan-Mehr, an astronomer at the University of California, Riverside and co-lead author of the study, stated: “If the dark matter particles are heavy enough and don’t annihilate, they may eventually collapse into a tiny black hole.”
“This black hole could then grow and consume the entire planet, turning it into a black hole with the same mass as the original planet.”
“This outcome is only possible under the superheavy non-annihilating dark matter model.”
For those concerned about Earth, it’s reassuring to note that since Earth is not an exoplanet, it is unlikely to face the threat of being swallowed by a black hole in the near future.
Phoroutan-Mehr noted that gaseous exoplanets are particularly vulnerable to this phenomenon.
“In gaseous exoplanets of various sizes, temperatures, and densities, black holes could form on observable timescales, potentially even generating multiple black holes in a single exoplanet’s lifetime,” he explained.
“These results show how exoplanet surveys could be used to hunt for superheavy dark matter particles, especially in regions hypothesized to be rich in dark matter like our Milky Way’s galactic center.”
Given that the study of dark matter is ongoing, Phoroutan-Mehr is hopeful that their findings will allow exoplanets to be used as tools to test and challenge various dark matter models.
“In recent years, our knowledge of exoplanets has expanded dramatically, and several upcoming space missions will provide even more detailed observations,” he added.